For Yusuke Takahashi, his mission at CFCL remains the same: to develop and industrialize more sustainable clothing using machine knitting.
But that doesn’t mean there’s no wisdom to be found in old textile examples: the idea is inspired by French philosopher Claude Lévi-Strauss’s theory of bricolage, which involves using what’s at hand (fragments of objects or concepts) and a little improvisation to solve a problem or create something new.
“When I first started the brand, I was just focused on using computer programming to create something completely different from what you could do by hand,” he says, but over time it became clear to him that a combination of old-fashioned and cutting-edge techniques would produce better results.
That means the dress’s stitching program was designed to include 2,000 holes into which pieces of woven ribbon can be inserted to create the lush fringe. “It’s machine washable, and the ribbons are replaceable,” Takahashi jokes, demonstrating how the elements are assembled.
Elsewhere, he noted the textile traditions he encountered as a young backpacker, including techniques such as ikat and tie-dye, which involve fashioning garments from rectangular pieces of fabric.
“Instead of building on specific inspiration from[one]country or region, we exist in a seamless world, free to connect and create a new era,” he said, backing up the idea with a live performance of Slovenian experimental band Silom’s “imaginary folk” repertoire.
Concept aside, the offerings continued to be an effortless yet smart aesthetic, with plenty of loose blousons, loose tailored trousers, polo dresses and short parkas, along with some unexpected playful moments, such as when an optical play with the lighting transformed a jacket’s multicoloured stripes into neon pinstripes.
Another obsession of CFCL was the idea that future-proof fashion starts with creating solid, attractive options for the present.
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